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Copying files via SCP over the network is slug slow

Hi,

I'm trying to copy some files from an old computer over to a newer one (with more space). The older one is running Windows XP Pro, the newer one SLICK/SUPER (a stripped down version of openSUSE 10.0). I have set up an SSH server on the SUSE box, and I downloaded PuTTY on the Windows XP Pro computer to transfer the files over to it.

The two computers are connected via a router. Both have 10/100 Mbps NICs, and are connected to the router via cat5s. So, technically I should be getting transfer speeds near 100 Mbps. The only problem is that, in reality, the transfer is going at a pathetic 46 Kbps - so, as you can imagine, copying the 3.8 GB of files from one PC to the other will take a few days at this rate.

Is it going so slowly because I am encrypting the files, or is there something else on the network that I am overlooking which is hindering the transfer? There are only 3 computers on the LAN - the two I've already mentioned, and another laptop which I'm typing this from. Ethereal is taking its time to download here as well, so I won't be able to perform any checkups until the download finishes..

Well, performance of the slug-slow XP box might be to blame. You also imply that it is nearly full...whats the CPU load and swap usage like on the XP box? That may have a lot to do with it being slow, particularly for a function that is encrypting payloads before it sends them.

Maybe encrypting the whole 3.8 Gb tarball (grimace) and sending it in the clear would be faster? Faster might still be relative, though.

"Data is not necessarily information. Information does not necessarily lead to knowledge. And knowledge is not always sufficient to discover truth and breed wisdom." --SpafAnyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job. --Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
"...people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right." - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Well, the 'old' computer isn't actually that old - it's got 1 GB of RAM, a 3.0 Ghz Pent 4 processor and an array of other niceties. But, it is getting a bit too clogged up, so I'm backing everything up and reinstalling (probably Linux this time). The computer isn't slow, per se, but there are so many files that it's quite confusing. So, I don't think the computer's to blame here (sorry for making it sound like that ).

I was thinking of packaging it all up together and sending it as one - but that would also involve compressing a load of files which are already separately compressed, and StuffIt isn't too eager to let me do so. Unpacking them all and then tar + bzipping again might take quite a while :P

Not sure then...I always turn off that QoS crap in XP (on the network connection properties...where the TCP/IP and Wins settings are), and make sure there's nothing throttling on the SUSE side. Hard to diagnose over a forum, sorry. Hands on, I might be able to finger it out.

"Data is not necessarily information. Information does not necessarily lead to knowledge. And knowledge is not always sufficient to discover truth and breed wisdom." --SpafAnyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job. --Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
"...people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right." - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

I tried disabling QoS - no faster, no slower. It is quite a difficult issue to solve over a forum.. Maybe I could post up an Ethereal dump from the SUSE server, or from the Win XP box? Would that help?

Doubtful. I'd be there with you troubleshooting more by osmosis than keen insight.

"Data is not necessarily information. Information does not necessarily lead to knowledge. And knowledge is not always sufficient to discover truth and breed wisdom." --SpafAnyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job. --Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
"...people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right." - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Nokia, I'm almost certain they are Cat 5 cables. But you may be right - it doesn't sound plausible? I've had much faster transfer rates over the network before. Come back a month later and, what do you know, it's going slower than 56k

If there are any tests you want me to try, or gather any info, then I'll gladly do it - I really hope I can resolve this, as the transfer process is painful. I can't do it by CD-R's, as some of the files are too big to fit (even when compressed); plus, the DVD writer seems to work solely with American DVD-R's, because I purchased it in the US. I don't know why, but it just refuses to record on European DVD's.. But that's another issue for another day

Thanks again, and if you've got any last tricks I can try please let me know.

It's actually a laptop - it has those specs, but it's a laptop not a box. And it is getting clogged up, so I'm backing the necessities up and then I'm going to wipe the drive. I would use an external hard drive to transfer the files, but I don't have it here with me - and I won't be able to get it for another month

But even then, that would not resolve the slow transfer speeds over the network. If it is really that slow, then surely the advantages provided by broadband are also being reduced, because the transfer speed is &lt;56k even though I have 256k ADSL?